Веснянки
Chapter III
YetFrecklesscowleddarklyashecamedownthetrail,andtherunningTAP,TAPthattestedthesaggingwireandtelegraphedwordofhiscomingtohisfurredandfeatheredfriendsoftheswamp,thismorningcarriedthestoryofhisdiscontentamileaheadofhim.
Freckles’specialpet,adainty,yellow-coated,black-sleeved,cockgoldfinch,hadremainedonthewireforseveraldayspastthebravestofall;andFreckles,absorbedwiththecunningandbeautyofthetinyfellow,neverguessedthathewasbeingduped.Forthegoldfinchwasskipping,flirting,andswingingfortheexpresspurposeofsoholdinghisattentionthathewouldnotlookupandseeasmallcradleofthistledownandwoolperilouslynearhishead.Inthebeginningofbrooding,thespunkylittlehomesteaderhadclungheroicallytothewirewhenhewasalmostparalyzedwithfright.Whendayafterdaypassedandbroughtonlysoftlywhistledrepetitionsofhiscall,ahandfulofcrumbsonthetopofalocustline-post,andgentlywordedcoaxings,hegrewinconfidence.OflatehehadsungandswungduringthepassingofFreckles,who,notdreamingofthenestandthesolemn-eyedlittlehensocloseabove,thoughthimselfunusuallygiftedinhispowertoattractthebirds.Thismorningthegoldfinchscarcelycouldbelievehisears,andclungtothewireuntilanunusuallyviciousrapsenthimspinningafootinair,andhis“PTSEET”camewithasquallofutterpanic.
Thewireswereringingwithastorythebirdscouldnottranslate,andFreckleswasquiteasignorantofthetroubleasthey.
